Roller shade system

ABSTRACT

An improved roller shade system provides increased support, additional adjustments and/or increased safety. The slip plate allows the brake to slip forward and minimize damage to the clutch spring when a user pulls too hard on the hembar. The center drive mechanism extends through a bracket to allow the drive shaft to distribute power in both directions and drive two shade tube simultaneously. The tube adapter absorbs force from the spinning shade tube to minimize damage to the other components and the bead chain. The sprocket has a back wall supporting the sprocket, allowing the sprocket 130 to rest on the back flange of the sun gear to minimize pressure on the gears. An adjustment arm is adjusted to help level the shade band. The shade bands may be removed without disturbing the other shade bands in the system. A height of a hembar may be adjusted by rotating a rod within the hembar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/746,332 filed on Oct. 16, 2018 andentitled “ROLLER SHADE SYSTEM,” which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to improvements to various functionsand features of roller shade systems.

BACKGROUND

With reference to FIG. 1, roller shade systems 100 typically include awindow covering attached to a shade tube 105, wherein the windowcovering rolls up onto a shade tube 105. The shade tube 105 is mountedbetween brackets 125 and at least one of the brackets 125 is connectedto a series of mechanical components such as gears, bearings, clutches,shafts, sprockets 130 and hubs. A bead chain is mounted onto thesprocket 130. Pulling on the bead chain rotates the sprocket 130, whichopens up the clutch (e.g., spring). Opening the clutch allows rotationof a driving hub attached to the tube. The driving hub rotation rotatesthe tube which lowers (or raises) the shade. The clutch may include awrap spring such as the wrap spring disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,428for “Wrap Spring Shade Operator”, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety for all purposes.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods are disclosed for an improved roller shade systemthat provides increased support, additional adjustments and/or increasedsafety. In various embodiments, the system may include a window shadesystem may comprise a slip plate engaged with a drive mechanism, whereinthe drive mechanism rotates forward in response to the slip platedisengaging from the drive mechanism. The slip plate may re-engage withthe drive mechanism after a predetermined rotation of the drivemechanism. The slip plate may include one or more protrusions (e.g.,knuckles) that engage with one or more slots in the drive mechanism. Theslip plate may include one or more protrusions that disengage from oneor more slots in the drive mechanism, and wherein the drive mechanismrotates forward in response to the one or more protrusions disengagingfrom the one or more slots in the drive mechanism. The drive mechanismmay comprise a brake hub.

In various embodiments, a window shade system may comprise a drive hubhaving a tube adapter comprised of dampening material, wherein the drivehub engages with at least one of a shade tube or a brake hub. The tubeadapter includes one or more tabs that engage the brake hub. A sprocketmay have a back wall that engages with an element that is concentricwith a sun gear. The concentric element may be a flange comprising anon-tooth portion of the sun gear.

In various embodiments, a window shade system may comprise a shade bandand a lock, wherein the lock is configured to restrict the shade bandfrom unrolling. The unrolling may be in response to a clutch systembeing removed in a multi-banded shade system. The lock may be a slidelock that includes a first opening that allows rotation of the shadeband and a second opening that restricts rotation of the shade band.

In various embodiments, a window shade system may comprise amulti-banded shade system having a support connector between each shadeband, wherein the support connector is configured to retract to allowremoval of the shade band. The support connector may comprise a firstportion and a second portion, wherein the first portion retracts intothe second portion. The support connector may be between a first shadetube and a second shade tube, wherein the support connector retracts bysliding into the first shade tube and out of the second tube.

In various embodiments, a window shade system may comprise a brackethaving a first side and a second side; a drive shaft having a firstportion that extends from the first side of the bracket and a secondportion that extends from the second side of the bracket; a sprocketreceived by the drive shaft; a chain around the sprocket; a first shadetube engaged with the first portion of the drive shaft; and a secondshade tube engaged with the second portion of the drive shaft.

In various embodiments, a window shade system may comprise a supportconnector; an adjustment arm having a first end, a middle portion and asecond end, wherein the middle portion of the adjustment arm engages thesupport connector; and an adjustment screw engaging a first end of theadjustment arm, wherein in response to turning the adjustment screw, theadjustment arm rotates and adjusts the support connector. The adjustmentscrew may comprise a head with flat cuts, wherein upon rotation of theadjustment screw, the flat cuts provide tactile and audible feedback.The adjustment screw may comprise a head with flat cuts, wherein theflat cuts prevent back-rotation of the adjustment screw.

In various embodiments, a window shade system may comprise shade fabricwith a first end and a second end; a rod that includes the second end ofthe shade fabric rolled around the rod; and a hembar engaging the rodwithin the hembar, wherein turning the rod adjusts a position of thehembar relative to the fabric.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals depict like elements,illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and togetherwith the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a shade system, in accordancewith various embodiments;

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate an assembled shade bracket with variouscomponents, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate an exemplary slip plate, in accordance withvarious embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary center drive mechanism, in accordancewith various embodiments;

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate exemplary tube adapters, in accordance withvarious embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary back wall on the sprocket that allowsthe sprocket 130 to rest on a surface to minimize impact on the gears,in accordance with various embodiments;

FIGS. 7A-7I illustrate various components of an exemplary adjustmentarm, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIGS. 8A-8B illustrate an exemplary slide lock for a support connector,in accordance with various embodiments; and

FIGS. 9A-9B illustrate an exemplary hembar variably attached to thefabric, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In various embodiments, and as set forth in FIG. 1, a shade system 100may include a first shade tube 105, a drive hub 110, a drive shaft 115,support bearing 120, shade bracket 125, sprocket 130, a bead chain (notshown) that rotates around the sprocket 130, a brake hub 135 (thatincludes a sun gear 140), planetary gears 145 surrounding the sun gear140, a planetary carrier 150 for the planetary gears 145, a wrap spring165 in the brake hub 135 (shown in FIG. 2B), a bearing shaft 155, adrive hub 110 and a second shade tube 105. In various embodiments, thesystem may include one or more improvements such as a slip plate 170,center drive mechanism, tube adapter 160, back wall 200 on the sprocket130, adjustment arm 215, shade band removal system and/or hembar 245adjustment device, all of which are further described in detail below.

In proper operation, as initially set forth in FIG. 1, and in responseto pulling the chain, the clutch (e.g., wrap spring) retracts away fromthe inside of the brake hub 135 to allow the brake hub 135 to rotate(and thus sprocket 130 to rotate) such that the chain around thesprocket 130 can be pulled down. Conversely, in response to the pullingforce being released, the spring re-engages with the inside of the brakehub 135 and the wrap spring stops the rotation of the shade. In priorsystems, the brake hub 135/sun gear 140 is permanently affixed to thebracket 125 and the planets rotate around the sun gear 140. Therefore,when users pull on the shade or hembar 245 (FIG. 9A) of the shade (i.e.,back-driving the clutch) with too much force, the clutch components(e.g., wrap spring 165 (FIG. 6), brake hub 135, gears, etc) may bedamaged or break.

To help solve this problem, the system may include a slip plate 170 toavoid or minimize damage. In particular, with respect to FIGS. 3A and3B, in various embodiments, the system may include a slip plate 170(also known as a detent clutch or slipper clutch) engaged with the brakehub 135 (e.g., but not permanently affixed to the brake hub 135). Inparticular, the slip plate 170 includes any number or size of tangs 175that engage with the brake hub 135, wherein the tangs 175 are receivedwithin any number of slots in the brake hub 135. The slip plate 170allows the brake hub 135 to ratchet or slip forward any number ofdegrees (e.g., 90 degrees to the next slot, as shown in FIG. 3B) toreduce or avoid breaking the clutch components. The tangs 175 of theslip plate 170 may include any number of “protrusions” 180 and “fingers”185. For example, the slip plate 170 may include four “protrusions” 180that extend outward from the shade bracket 125 and into four “pockets”(or slots 190) in the brake hub 135. The 4 respective “fingers” 185 arereceived into the shade bracket 125 to hold the slip plate 170 againstthe shade bracket 125. When the user pulls the shade or hembar 245 withexcessive force, the protrusions 180 pop out (or flex out) of theirpockets 190 in the brake hub 135, thus allowing the brake hub 135 to“slip” forward and rotate (e.g., 90 degrees), until the knuckle 180 iscaught again in the next pocket 190. The user may feel a ratchetingaction as the protrusions 180 rotate through the “pockets” 190 while theforce is applied. When the brake hub 135 slips forward, any portion orall of the drive mechanism (e.g., the sun gear 140 (that is part of thebrake hub 135), planetary carrier 150, the bearing shaft 155, the drivehub 110, the tube adapter 160 and the shade tube 105) also slip forwardto minimize or avoid breakage. However, the ratcheting action may notaffect the relationship between the bead stop locations and theresulting hembar 245 position.

When a user pulls a shade too quickly and it reaches an end limit, abead stop on the chain hits the bracket 125 housing and stops suddenly,which occasionally leads to the chain snapping. In particular, the chainsometimes breaks because the clutch does not close immediately, so themomentum of the shade tube 105 and fabric back-drives from the shadetube 105 through the tube adapter 160, through the drive hub 110,through the brake (which has not closed yet), into the sprocket 130, andcauses excessive forces on the chain. Such back-drive may occur in themilliseconds before the clutch can close the brake and stop the system.The back-drive is what causes the sprocket 130 to continue pulling onthe chain after the chain stops on the bead stop, thereby breaking thechain. In other words, the shade tube 105 may still spin due to momentumand because the clutch may stay open for a fraction of a second, evenafter the bead on the chain hits the stop point. The spinning of theshade tube 105 may exert torque on various components of the system andthe chain may break. Other systems may include a bumper on the bead stopto act as a shock absorber, but such a bumper placement is ofteninsufficient to prevent damage, the bumper placement is unsightly and/orthe bumper placement gets in the way of various forms of chain guides.

As such, with respect to FIGS. 5A and 5B, in various embodiments, tubeadapters 160 dampen the torque and absorb some of the force from thespinning tube. In particular, the flexible and soft tube adapter 160dampens some of the force back-driving from the shade tube to the drivehub 110 and subsequently through the rest of the drive train. The tubeadapters 160 help to protect the components and mitigate chain breakage.The tube adapters 160 minimize or prevent damage to the clutch, sprocket130, chain, bead-stop, and/or housing of a drive bracket 125 due toexcessive rotational speed of a shade being raised or lowered. The tubeadapters 160 may be any dampening material such as, for example,urethane. The tube adapter 160 may be any shape or size. In variousembodiments, the tube adapter 160 is sized and shaped to engage withdifferent tube sizes and shapes. In various embodiments, the tubeadapter 160 may be incorporated inside the clutch mechanism to furtherdampen and prevent chain breakage. For example, the drive hub 110 on thetube adapter 160 is typically rigid. However, the tube adapter 160 mayinclude a semi-rigid element that has a limited amount of flexibility inthe one or more tabs (on the drive hub 110) that drive the hub. Thissemi-rigid element of the drive hub 110 may have a certain amount ofshock absorption built into the element. This semi-rigid element residesinside the brake hub 135, which may not be in the tube.

As shown in FIG. 1, in various embodiments, the sun gear 140 is astationary component that allows the planetary gears 145 (that are heldby the planetary carrier 150) to rotate around the sun gear 140 clutch.The planetary gears 145 rotate within the sprocket 130 (ring gear), sothe load on the chain pulling on the sprocket 130 is typically pushingdown on and putting weight on the planetary gears 145. This arrangementcauses the sprocket 130 and planetary gears 145 to be off-center andwobble. As such, with respect to FIG. 6, in various embodiments, thesystem includes a “back wall 200” support on the sprocket 130 thatprovides support for the sprocket 130. In various embodiments, the backwall 200 may engage any element that is concentric to the sun gear 140,thereby supporting the load from pulling the chain. For example, theback wall 200 includes an opening of a smaller radius, so the back wall200 sits on a flange (e.g., non-toothed portion) on the backside of thesun gear 140. As such, when the chain pulls down on the sprocket 130, atleast a portion of the inner circumference of the opening in the backwall 200 of the sprocket 130 pushes against the flange 205 on thebackside of the sun gear 140, and does not put pressure on the planetarygears 145. This arrangement keeps the brake hub 135/sun gear 140centered and prevents wobble that leads to smoother operation. Havingthe brake hub 135 integrated with the sun gear 140 also makes for asmaller package and reduced quantities of system components.

When multiple shades (e.g., 2-6 shade bands) are installed next to eachother across a large window, each shade would typically need its owndrive bracket 125 (with its own sprocket 130, chain, etc) that controlsthe movement of the single shade. A shading system may also include amulti-banded system in which a multitude of individual shadebands aredriven by a single manual drive chain or motor that interfaces with afirst shade. A shade band may consist of a shade tube 105, tube adapters160, and a fabric band. The fabric band may comprise a spline (which maybe welded to the top of the fabric) and the hembar 245 (which may beattached to the bottom of the fabric). In various embodiments, thesystem drives multiple shade bands through a single chain by using asupport connector 210 (e.g., multi-band coupler between two shadebands). The support connector 210 fits within an accompanying bracket125 between each shadeband. A single drive bracket 125 may be configuredat one end of the group of shadebands being controlled. Pulling on thechain drives a first shadeband attached to the drive bracket 125, whichis coupled to two or more shadebands, wherein each band is driven via asupport connector 210 in a serial fashion from the first shadeband.

At times, one shade in the multi-banded system may need to be removeddue to service or maintenance. However, if the shade band attached tothe drive bracket (the bracket with the sprocket and clutch/brakemechanism) is removed, then all the shades may unroll because the clutchsystem at the drive bracket 125 is no longer restricting the shade tube105 rotation. Moreover, if a second shade in a multi-banded system isremoved, then the third shade, fourth shade, etc may also unrollbecause, while the clutch system may still restrict the first shade, theclutch system is no longer restricting the shade tube 105 rotation inthe subsequent shades. To prevent the shades from unrolling, someservice people would tape the hembar 245 onto the rest of the windowshade roll. However, the use of tape is often unreliable and requiresadditional time and effort to tape each individual shade. In variousembodiments, the present system may allow an individual shade band in amulti-banded system to be removed without disturbing the rest of thebands in the system. Prior to a shade band being removed, any subsequentbands would be locked into place. The system may include a lock toprevent the shade tube 105 from unrolling when other shades in amulti-banded system are removed. The lock may be any device thatrestricts the rotation of the shade band and/or support connector 210.For example, a slide lock 240, a fork, pin or pawl that interfaces withthe shade tube 105 and/or support connector 210. A slide lock 240 isshown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, wherein the support connector 210 extendsthrough the slide lock 240 that includes a larger opening (that allowsrotation in FIG. 8A) and a restricted opening (that restricts rotationin FIG. 8B). When the slide lock 240 is in the down position, thesupport connector 210 extends through the larger opening such that thesupport connector 210 is able to rotate. When the slide lock 240 is inthe up position, the support connector 210 extends through therestricted opening such that the support connector 210 is restrictedfrom rotation.

Moreover, the center-support brackets 125 in a multi-banded systemtypically include a support connector 210 that goes through thecenter-support bracket 125, such that a first shade tube 105 interfaceswith the support connector 210 on the first side of the bracket 125 anda second shade tube 105 interfaces with the same support connector 210on the second side of the bracket 125. This arrangement may repeat forsubsequent shades in a multi-banded system. Because of this arrangement,when service personnel needs to remove, for example, a third shade band,they first need to remove the first shade band and the second shade bandin order to be able to remove the third. In various embodiments, thepresent system provides a support connector 210 configured to be removedor moved out of the way, such that any shade band can be removed,without needing to remove the other shade bands. For example, thecenter-support connector 210 may be comprised of two shafts thatinterface with each other at the middle of the center-support bracket125. These halves can individually be retracted into its respectiveshade tube 105, thereby allowing the shade band to be removedindependently. In another example, the system may have the supportconnector 210 be a single shaft that can slide into either the firstshade tube 105 or the second shade tube 105 in their respective shadebands on either side of the center-support bracket 125.

There are times when obstacles in the room (e.g., couches, tables,desks, etc.) could be obstructing access to the chain used to operatethe group of shades in a multi-band arrangement. The chain may be hiddenbehind a column or recess preventing easy access to the chain in orderto operate the shade. As such, with respect to FIG. 4, in variousembodiments, the system may employ a center-drive mechanism such thatthe chain now is positioned at a location within the shade group wherethere is no obstacle obstructing access to it. The center drivemechanism may comprise a hole in the bracket 125 and the drive shaft 115that goes through the bracket 125 (the drive shaft 115 can be any shapecapable of transferring torque (e.g., hexagonal)). The drive shaft 115controls the first drive hub 110 (on the left) that rotates the firstshade and also controls the second drive hub 110 (on the right) thatrotates the second shade. As such, when the one chain is pulled torotate the sprocket 130/ring gear, the single drive transfers therotational force to two shades on either side of the drive bracket 125.In other words, the center drive mechanism drives two bands of a shadein multi-band system via one central sprocket 130 where the two bands,on either side of the drive bracket 125, are driven in a parallel manner(as opposed to a serial manner). Either or both of the shade bands (oneither side of the bracket 125) may themselves include a supportconnector 210 (as described above) on the end opposite of the drivebracket 125, so the center-drive mechanism may drive more than one shadeon either or both sides of the bracket 125. In that regard, thecenter-drive mechanism may not necessarily be in the center of thevarious shade bands (e.g., may have 1 shade band on the left, and 2coupled shade bands on the right).

In the past, installers would use a shim with the bracket 125 to try toalign the brackets 125 when mounting the brackets 125, for example, onan uneven ceiling. The installers would place one or more shims ofvarious thicknesses between the ceiling and the top mounting flange ofthe bracket to lower all brackets to the same level as the lowestbracket in a group. However, the installers would need to create and/orcarry different shims. To try to minimize or avoid the use of shims, theinstallers may adjust a set screw that engages with a support connector210 (e.g., at a center support in a multi-banded arrangement, as shownin FIGS. 7A-7D) and/or a set screw that engages with a shade band at anidle end (as shown in FIGS. 7E-7H). For example, a support connector 210typically rests within a support connector 210 holder on the bracket125. The support connector 210 holder is mounted with a fastener withina channel such that the support connector 210 holder may be configuredto move up or down. A shade bracket 125 would include a screw below thesupport connector 210 holder and pushing against the support connector210 holder, wherein turning the screw would raise or lower the supportconnector 210 holder. A similar set screw arrangement existed for ashade band at an idle end. In particular, shade systems would use amoveable element that supports the center-line of a shade. This moveableelement rests on a screw via gravity alone. Adjusting this screw adjuststhe centerline up and down. Such adjustments were used to even out theshade band to make the shade parallel to the window sill or tocompensate for an uneven ceiling. However, such a screw assembly hasdisadvantages including that the assembly is underneath the unit, so theassembly increases the overall height of the bracket and takes up morespace, especially inside a pocket.

As such, with respect to FIG. 7A-7I, in various embodiments, the systemincludes a cam type pivot system (e.g., adjustment arm 215) to even outthe shade band and adjust the centerline of a shade system. Theadjustment arm 215 may include a first portion, a middle portion and asecond portion. The middle portion of the adjustment arm engages theshaft, an adjustment screw engages a first portion of the adjustment armand the second portion of the adjustment arm comprises the pivot point.As shown in FIGS. 7A-7D, center support bearing 225 is located around atleast a portion of the support connector 210. When the center supportbearing 225 is moved up or down, the shade band on each side of thebracket 125 also moves up or down. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 7E-7H,when the shaft on the idle end band is moved up or down, the shade bandincluding the lam spring 235 also moves up or down. The adjustment arm215 allows for height adjustment by a swinging arc that may beself-locking and indexing. The system employs a centerline adjustmentarm 215 that is used on the idle end to avoid the gears, and in order toensure the centerline can be leveled for each band independently. Theadjustment arm 215 allows for a curved path of travel for thecenter-line. The centerline translates horizontally as well asvertically. By having a cam like device, the pathway can be straight,vertically up and vertically down (without curving too muchhorizontally). Also, most screws (described above) have the adjustmentmechanism resting below the support connector 210 or the idle end shaft.In the present device, as shown in FIG. 7I, the adjustment screw 220 isresting on the side (e.g., head) of the adjustment device. As shown inFIG. 7G, a spring-loaded locking pawl 230 retains the support connector210 or lam spring 235 at a certain level. In response to turning theadjustment screw, the support connector 210 or idle end band isadjusted, while the spring-loaded locking pawl 230 continues to retainthe support connector 210 or idle end band in the newly adjustedlocation.

In various embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 7I, the head of theadjustment screw 220 has one or more flat cuts 222 into at least aportion of the head. The housing of the adjustment device is resting onthe head, as shown in FIG. 7I. The flat cut 222 allows the rotation ofthe adjustment screw 220 to provide feedback in the form of a tactileand/or audible click. The feedback allows the rotation of the adjustmentscrew 220 to be indexed (e.g., every 180 degrees). The indexing givesthe user a reference point for how many turns they have made. The flatcut 222 also prevents the adjustment screw 220 from back-driving orloosening (e.g., helps lock the adjustment screw 220 so that it does notturn on its own). In various embodiments, the system may also employ anadjustable dogbone-type coupling device allowing the system to leveleach shade band independently, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 7,625,151,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for allpurposes.

Adjacent shade bands may not always be aligned vertically with eachother, so the present system allows for adjustment of one or morehembars 245 to maintain visual consistency. In various embodiments, thesystem may also include mechanisms that allow the hembar 245 to bevariably attached to the fabric. In various embodiments, as shown inFIGS. 9A and 9B, the bottom position of the hembar 245 is not fixed andcan be shifted up (as in FIG. 9A) or down (as in FIG. 9B) to allow foradjustment of the hembar 245 vertically on the fabric 250. The fabric250 at the bottom of the window shade may be rolled around a small tube255 that can be rigidly fixed inside the hembar 245. Tube 255 mayinclude a rod with a head that can be turned. For example, the head ofthe rod may include a hex head that can be turned with a hex key, achannel that can be turned with a flat head screw driver, or across-hair that can be turned with a Philips screw driver. By rolling upa small amount of fabric 250, the position of the hembar 245 can beadjusted up or down vertically as it hangs from the bottom of the fabric250.

The roller shade system may be controlled by a shade control system. Assuch, this application incorporates by reference for all purposes and intheir entirety: U.S. Ser. No. 14/692,868 filed on Apr. 22, 2015 andentitled “Automated Shade Control System Interaction With BuildingManagement System”; PCT Application No. PCT/US2013/066316 filed on Oct.23, 2013 and entitled “Automated Shade Control System UtilizingBrightness Modeling”; PCT Application No. PCT/US2013/066316; U.S. Ser.No. 13/671,018 filed on Nov. 7, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,890,456entitled “Automated Shade Control System Utilizing Brightness Modeling”;U.S. Ser. No. 13/556,388 filed on Jul. 24, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.8,432,117 entitled “Automated Shade Control System”; U.S. Ser. No.13/343,912 filed on Jan. 5, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,248,014 entitled“Automated Shade Control System”; U.S. Ser. No. 12/475,312 filed on May29, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,120,292 entitled “Automated Shade ControlReflectance Module”; U.S. Ser. No. 12/421,410 filed on Apr. 9, 2009, nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,125,172 entitled “Automated Shade Control Method andSystem”; U.S. Ser. No. 12/197,863 filed on Aug. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,977,904 entitled “Automated Shade Control Method and System”; U.S.Ser. No. 11/162,377 filed on Sep. 8, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,417,397entitled “Automated Shade Control Method and System”; U.S. Ser. No.10/906,817 filed on Mar. 8, 2005, and entitled “Automated Shade ControlMethod and System”; and U.S. Provisional No. 60/521,497 filed on May 6,2004, and entitled “Automated Shade Control Method and System.”

The detailed description of various embodiments herein makes referenceto the accompanying drawings, which show various embodiments by way ofillustration. While these various embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice thedisclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may berealized and that logical and mechanical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, thedetailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustrationonly and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of themethod or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are notlimited to the order presented. Moreover, any of the functions or stepsmay be outsourced to or performed by one or more third parties.Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems,apparatuses, and methods described herein without departing from thescope of the disclosure. For example, the components of the systems andapparatuses may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations ofthe systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be performed by more,fewer, or other components and the methods described may include more,fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in anysuitable order. As used in this document, “each” refers to each memberof a set or each member of a subset of a set. Furthermore, any referenceto singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more thanone component may include a singular embodiment. Although specificadvantages have been enumerated herein, various embodiments may includesome, none, or all of the enumerated advantages.

In the detailed description herein, references to “various embodiments,”“one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc.,indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature,structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarilyinclude the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover,such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic isdescribed in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it iswithin the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature,structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodimentswhether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, itwill be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implementthe disclosure in alternative embodiments.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure isaccordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in whichreference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one andonly one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.”Moreover, where a phrase similar to ‘at least one of A, B, and C’ or ‘atleast one of A, B, or C’ is used in the claims or specification, it isintended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may bepresent in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, Calone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of theelements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example,A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Although the disclosureincludes a method, it is contemplated that it may be embodied ascomputer program instructions on a tangible computer-readable carrier,such as a magnetic or optical memory or a magnetic or optical disk. Allstructural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of theabove-described various embodiments that are known to those of ordinaryskill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and areintended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is notnecessary for a device or method to address each and every problemsought to be solved by the present disclosure, for it to be encompassedby the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or methodstep in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the publicregardless of whether the element, component, or method step isexplicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is intended to invoke35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using thephrase “means for” or “step for”. As used herein, the terms “comprises,”“comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover anon-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus.

We claim:
 1. A window shade system comprising a slip plate engaged witha drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism rotates in response tothe slip plate disengaging from the drive mechanism, and wherein theslip plate includes one or more protrusions that engage with one or moreslots in the drive mechanism.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the slipplate re-engages with the drive mechanism after a predetermined rotationof the drive mechanism.
 3. A window shade system comprising a slip plateengaged with a drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism rotates inresponse to the slip plate disengaging from the drive mechanism, andwherein the slip plate re-engages with the drive mechanism after apredetermined rotation of the drive mechanism.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein the slip plate includes one or more protrusions that disengagefrom one or more slots in the drive mechanism, and wherein the drivemechanism rotates forward in response to the one or more protrusionsdisengaging from the one or more slots in the drive mechanism.
 5. Thesystem of claim 3, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a brake hub. 6.The system of claim 3, wherein the drive mechanism rotates forward about90 degrees, in response to the slip plate disengaging from the drivemechanism.
 7. The system of claim 3, wherein the slip plate re-engageswith the drive mechanism after a 90 degree rotation of the drivemechanism.
 8. The system of claim 3, wherein the slip plate includesfour protrusions that respectively engage with four slots in the drivemechanism.
 9. The system of claim 3, wherein the slip plate includes oneor more tangs having one or more protrusions and one or more fingers.10. The system of claim 3, wherein the slip plate includes one or morefingers that extend into a shade bracket.
 11. The system of claim 3,wherein the slip plate disengaging from the drive mechanism comprisesone or more protrusions at least one of popping out or flexing out ofone or more slots in the drive mechanism.
 12. The system of claim 3,wherein a protrusion of the slip plate re-engages with a next slot inthe drive mechanism.
 13. The system of claim 3, wherein the drivemechanism includes at least one of a sun gear, a brake hub, a planetarycarrier, a bearing shaft, a drive hub, a tube adapter and a shade tube.14. The system of claim 3, wherein the drive mechanism rotating forwarddoes not affect the relationship between a bead stop location and aresulting hembar position.
 15. The system of claim 3, further comprisinga sprocket having a back wall that engages with an element that isconcentric with a sun gear.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein theconcentric element is a flange comprising a non-tooth portion of the sungear.
 17. The system of claim 3, further comprising: a bracket having afirst side and a second side; a drive shaft having a first portion thatextends from the first side of the bracket and a second portion thatextends from the second side of the bracket; the drive mechanismreceived by the drive shaft; a chain around a sprocket of the drivemechanism; a first shade tube engaged with the first portion of thedrive shaft; and a second shade tube engaged with the second portion ofthe drive shaft.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first portionof the drive shaft controls a first drive hub that rotates the firstshade tube and the second portion of the drive shaft controls a seconddrive hub that rotates the second shade tube.
 19. The system of claim17, wherein in response to the chain being pulled, rotational force istransferred to the first shade tube on the first side of the bracket andto the second shade tube on the second side of the bracket.
 20. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein the sprocket drives in parallel the firstshade tube and the second shade tube.